Home › VA › Richmond, VA Cost of living in Richmond, VA Livability score 66 · cost-of-living index 98.3 (US = 100)
How Richmond compares Where Richmond falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 98 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 98 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $398k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $398k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $199 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $199 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 5.7% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 5.7% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.76% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.76% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 200 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 200 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 87° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 87° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 28° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 28° Map of Richmond Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 98.3 metro-area #130 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 97.1 metro-area #121 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.60 metro-area #130 of 200 Median household income $80,877 metro-area #58 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $45,473 metro-area #39 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 38.7 years metro-area #101 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 40.2% metro-area #40 of 200 Foreign-born residents 8.7% metro-area #91 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 67.1% metro-area #90 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.78% metro-area #74 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.6% metro-area #104 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $397,705 metro-area #134 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.9× metro-area #111 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.3% metro-area #79 of 200 Price per square foot $199 metro-area #110 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,763 metro-area #128 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 3,254 Median days on market 6 metro-area #5 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 12.5% state #160 of 200 Combined sales tax 5.73% state #12 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.75% Capital gains tax 5.75% state #130 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.76% metro-area #71 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,285 metro-area #83 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 76.3 years metro-area #108 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,800 state #93 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 7.1% metro-area #68 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 82 metro-area #72 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $15,000 state #141 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $80 state #64 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 3.97% of value (~$1,112/yr) state #197 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 25 min metro-area #125 of 200 Commute by driving alone 71.8% metro-area #60 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 35.3% metro-area #135 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 17.4¢/kWh state #112 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $156 state #112 of 200 Gasoline $3.20/gal state #63 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 state #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $103 state #97 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $77 state #67 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,500 state #51 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 state #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 65.9 — Relatively Low metro-area #7 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $700 state #61 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 44 metro-area #76 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,500 metro-area #110 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,900 metro-area #102 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 42 metro-area #121 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 1 metro-area #105 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 87°F metro-area #94 of 200 Avg winter low 28°F metro-area #110 of 200 Annual precipitation 45.5" metro-area #129 of 200 Annual snowfall 8.8" metro-area #107 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 57% metro-area #121 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7a Frost window 04-10 → 11-01
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 200 state #7 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,500 state #32 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 16 metro-area #190 of 200 Parks 27 Hiking areas 4 Golf courses 20 Shooting ranges 6 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Richmond Major public and private employers in the Richmond, VA area.
Employer Sector Jobs Capital One Financial Finance Careers → VCU Health Healthcare Search → HCA Virginia Health Healthcare Search → Bon Secours Richmond Healthcare Search → Virginia Commonwealth University Education Search → Dominion Energy Energy Careers →
Salaries by occupation in Richmond Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $179,820 Financial Managers $160,110 Marketing Managers $151,430 Lawyers $146,010 Pharmacists $138,320 Human Resources Managers $136,260 Software Developers $128,510 Physician Assistants $117,850 Data Scientists $115,800 General & Operations Managers $105,190 Construction Managers $99,810 Web Developers $98,280 Physical Therapists $95,720 Mechanical Engineers $93,240 Dental Hygienists $91,440 Registered Nurses $85,440 Civil Engineers $84,360 Accountants & Auditors $78,090 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $63,510 Real Estate Sales Agents $60,340 Graphic Designers $59,310 Elementary School Teachers $59,100 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $58,830 Electricians $58,190 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $51,160 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,600 Carpenters $48,730 Medical Assistants $39,610
Cities in the Richmond area Richmond (227,171) → Tuckahoe (48,049) → Mechanicsville (38,328) → Petersburg (33,261) → Short Pump (28,400) → Chester (23,068) → Hopewell (23,046) → Meadowbrook (20,047) → Midlothian (19,123) → Laurel (18,480) → Colonial Heights (18,158) → Bon Air (17,452) → East Highland Park (16,499) → Glen Allen (16,246) → Highland Springs (14,881) → Brandermill (14,285) → Lakeside (12,124) → Wyndham (12,110) → Manchester (11,929) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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